Eden Alternative Ireland (Presentation from Dublin Community Hospital Network, August 2013) (DCN6)

1. Eden Alternative

2. ‘It Can be Different’
The Eden Alternative transforms care settings from an
institutional/medical approach and empowers staff to
create human habitats within facilities.

3. The Story of Eden
 Founded by Dr Bill
Thomas in 1993
 Saw that
helplessness,
loneliness and
boredom were
causing the greatest
burden of suffering

4. The Eden Alternative is part of a
World Wide Culture Change
Movement
 USA
 Canada
 Australia and New Zealand
 Northern Europe –Switzerland, Germany, Austria
and Netherlands
 Denmark, Iceland and Faeroe Islands
 UK and Ireland
 South Africa
 China

5. Eden Alternative in Ireland
 Sacred Heart Hospital, Roscommon,
registered July 2012
 Received Taoiseach’s Public Service
Excellence Award in recognition of
success.
 2013 onwards – expanding the network.

6. 6
Culture Change.
We introduces the change in three stages;
 Personal Transformation
 Physical Transformation
 Operational Transformation

7. 7
A Paradigm Shift
Understanding the difference between:
 taking care of, and caring about
 giving, and giving and receiving care
 paternalism and normal life
 taking decisions, and handing back
decision making to residents and their
carers
 a structured life, and spontaneity.

8. The Ten Principles

9. Principle 1
The three plagues
of loneliness,
helplessness and
boredom account
for the bulk of suffering
among our Elders

10. Principle 2
An Eden elder-centred community commits to
creating a human habitat where life revolves
around close and continuing contact with plants,
animals and children (not around care routines).
Creating a vibrant atmosphere where things are
happening.

11. Principle 3
Loving companionship is
the antidote to loneliness.
Elders deserve easy
access to human and
animal companionship.

12. 12

13. Principle 4
An Elder-centred community creates
opportunity to give as well as receive care.
This is the antidote to helplessness.

14. 14

15. Principle 5
An Eden elder-centred community imbues
daily life with variety and spontaneity by
creating an environment in which
unexpected and unpredictable interactions
and happenings can take place.
This is the antidote to boredom.

16. 16

17. Principle 6
Meaningless activity corrodes the
human spirit. The opportunity to do
things that we find meaningful is
essential to human health.
Putting meaning back into our residents’
lives.

18. Principle 7
Medical treatment should be the
servant of genuine human caring,
never its master.

19. Changing the Language
 Washing/showering
• Activities of Daily Living
 Going to the toilet
• Continence Management
 Eating
• Dietary requirements
 Tablets
• Medication

20.  Knitting/sewing
Recreational therapy
 Listening to music
Music therapy
 Going for a walk
Physiotherapy
 Gardening
Horticultural therapy
 Having a cat/dog
Pet therapy
Life
• Therapy

21. Principle 8
An Eden elder-centred community honours
its Elders by de-emphasizing top-down
bureaucratic authority, seeking instead to
place the maximum possible decision-
making authority into the hands of the
Elders or into the hands of those closest to
them.
Empowering staff to be creative

22. 22
Empowerment
Empowerment is about creating
an environment that welcomes
ideas, wisdom and the generosity
of everyone.

23. Principle 9
Creating an Elder-centred
community is a never-ending
process. Human growth must
never be separated from human
life.

24. 24
Human growth = risk taking

25. Principle 10
Wise leadership is the lifeblood of any
struggle against the three plagues.
For it, there can be no substitute.

26. The Eden Alternative
Why is Eden different?
 Eden is common sense
 Eden is non-prescriptive
 Eden is easy for care staff to understand
 Eden significantly increases staff satisfaction
 Eden is forgiving

27. Why is Eden different?
 Eden goes beyond person-centred care
 We get to know our residents more deeply.
 Care is not ‘done unto’ but ‘with’
 Knowing their simple pleasures means
putting the spark back into their lives

28. The Business Case for the
Eden Alternative

29. Costs
 Training Costs
 Associate Training
 Training for all other staff
 Other costs

30. Benefits for residents
Research and anecdotal reports from the
UK, USA and elsewhere show:
 Residents more engaged.
 Reduction in difficult behaviour.
 Reduction in use of psychotropic medication.
 Reduced use of night sedation.
 Reduction in medication costs.
 Reduction in falls.

31. Staff benefits
 Empowered Staff
 Reduction in staff turnover
 Reduction in staff absenteeism
 The workforce considers that they are
respected and valued by the employers and
the older people.

32. Homes in the UK/Ireland
 Reduction in staff turnover
 Reduction in staff absenteeism
 Reduction in medication costs
 Increase in waiting lists for places in the
Home
 Residents continue to have a life worth
living and live longer

33. Stephen Cassidy
Eden Alternative Ireland Representative
stephen@edenalternative.ie
www.eden-alternative.co.uk